With the New York Knicks eliminated in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, all eyes in the Big Apple will now focus squarely on Juan Soto’s struggles or success with the New York Mets.
Whether you’re a New York Mets or New York Yankees fan, the Knicks’ season ending means the attention moves to Soto in his first season in Queens. If you’re a Mets fan, you’re hoping he lives up to his $765 million deal signed in the offseason. If you’re a Yankees fan, you’re hoping that he doesn’t, as it just proves (at least in your mind) that either he should’ve stayed in the Bronx for the rest of his career, or he’s not worth that much money, so good riddance.
Soto’s start to this season has provided plenty of fodder for New York talk shows and columnists, with everything from his slow start at the plate (with an OPS+ of 117 entering Saturday compared to his career average of 158) to his perceived lack of hustle drawing headlines and point-counterpoint arguments. However, even Soto took a back seat in New York in recent weeks as the Knicks advanced to their first conference finals appearance since 2000.
Now with the Knicks sidelined and the Jets and Giants still preparing for the NFL season ahead, baseball will become the biggest talking point in New York… with Soto and his play likely drawing the most comments.
